Hamster Central - View Single Post - Using a ball on a stand as a permanent wheel

AmityvilleHams · 07-29-2020, 06:40 PM

Absolutely not. Balls are dangerous even on stands - those "ventilation holes" are a serious hazard for injuries and they also don't allow enough ventilation so you have an increased risk of respiratory health issues.

Flying saucers really aren't good wheels anyways. For Syrians, even the 12 inch isn't big enough. They don't have the same running surface size as upright wheels, they don't allow for a proper running position regardless of size, and as an added drawback they take up incredibly useful floor space that would be much better for extra enrichment!

I would also strongly recommend the 12" Silent Runner wheel (not Silent Spinner - those are very low quality wheels with inherent safety flaws present in any wheel of that make or similar designs and often don't spin or if they do spin when you get them they don't permanently spin, along with never remaining silent if you're even lucky enough to get one that is initially silent).

Another alternative would be a 12 inch Comfort Wheel, which despite not being silent is still functional and has a fairly safe design. You'll find mixed reviews on how loud they are, but the main point is that they are a perfectly suitable option if that's what you're able to get.

07-29-2020, 06:40 PM
AmityvilleHams PM Fluffy for custom title Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 4,545	Re: Using a ball on a stand as a permanent wheel Absolutely not. Balls are dangerous even on stands - those "ventilation holes" are a serious hazard for injuries and they also don't allow enough ventilation so you have an increased risk of respiratory health issues. Flying saucers really aren't good wheels anyways. For Syrians, even the 12 inch isn't big enough. They don't have the same running surface size as upright wheels, they don't allow for a proper running position regardless of size, and as an added drawback they take up incredibly useful floor space that would be much better for extra enrichment! I would also strongly recommend the 12" Silent Runner wheel (not Silent Spinner - those are very low quality wheels with inherent safety flaws present in any wheel of that make or similar designs and often don't spin or if they do spin when you get them they don't permanently spin, along with never remaining silent if you're even lucky enough to get one that is initially silent). Another alternative would be a 12 inch Comfort Wheel, which despite not being silent is still functional and has a fairly safe design. You'll find mixed reviews on how loud they are, but the main point is that they are a perfectly suitable option if that's what you're able to get.